Visakhapatnam: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed various projects of the Port city here on Sunday. The progress of the works was reviewed in Vizag Port, at the Dredging Corporation of India and at the Maritime University Visakha.
The minister told the media, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, this much has been achieved. This is nothing but 9 years of development in the country.”
On the Sagar Mala project, the minister said the government was focusing on aspects of port connectivity, coastal community, coastal development and shipping. The Centre has taken up 802 Sagara Mala projects across the country at a cost of Rs 5.6 lakh crore. This development has been spearheaded by the Ports and Maritime Board.
The minister told the media, “In AP alone, the central government is engaged in 113 projects with an outlay of Rs 1.23 lakh crore.”
Sonowal said that as part of the Sagar Mala project, some 36 projects have already been completed. The cost of these projects was Rs 32.210 crore. “As part of the modernization of Vizag city, the central government is opening an international cruise terminal. Vizag is suitable for domestic and international cruise operations. So, the government is determined to develop coastal cruises.”
He said, “The Centre wants to develop travel opportunities from Vizag to Chennai, Vizag to Calcutta, Vizag to Mumbai and Goa, and Vizag to Kandla. This will lead to a lot of employment opportunities here. The government is also opening an oil bot and truck parking terminal.”
Sonowal promised that the Centre would make Vizag a pollution-free city. “The Centre is keen on modernization and mechanization of Vizag port by 2030. We have set a target of transportation of 1 million containers.”
